Click on links below for each day’s digital edition!

We, every one of us, can make a difference if we so desire. It really is all about choices. We can be proactive, progressing towards change that will make today better than yesterday for ourselves and for others, but only if we choose to do so. In essence, we can choose to be victims of societal decay or, we can be advocates and drivers of positive change. The choice is ours to make… and live with.

What do 6,111 women in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa all have in common? They each visited a Women’s Business Center in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Region 7 during fiscal 2018 and are now starting or operating a business.

Nationally, the SBA supports 114 WBCs that contribute to tremendous growth for the businesses they serve – creating $1.7 billion in revenue and 17,000 new jobs. Counseling, training and mentorship through other SBA resource partners including Small Business Development Centers, SCORE chapters and the SBA’s Woman Owned Small Business program helped even more women succeed as entrepreneurs.

Very early stage startups often seek angel or seed financing in order to gain initial traction on developing their product or technology, land initial customers, and make other progress. Angel or seed rounds typically range from $100,000 to $500,000 or more. READ HERE for four key points investors look for when reviewing an early stage seed or angel investment opportunity:

We all know at least person in the office who possesses all the traits of a toxic co-worker (i.e., they’re lazy, acts superior to others, loves to gossip, etc.). But one of the biggest red flag personality traits, according to a Harvard Business School study, is the constant need to spread negativity. In other words, they are a pain to be around and their actions can make everyone’s workday utterly miserable.

The data, which observed more than 50,000 employees, found that this type of “toxic” co-worker is a major red flag because of their ability to drive other employees to quit their jobs, faster and frequently. They can “cause major organizational cost, including customer loss, loss of employee morale, increased turnover and loss of legitimacy among important external stakeholders,” the researchers cited.

IN THIS ARTICLE, the author explains when entrepreneurs should also consider themselves family business owners and what difference that simple but critical mindset shift will make for their businesses’ longevity.

Business plans are an important business start-up step for many small business owners, especially those who are pitching their business ideas to investors or credit institutions for funding. Because of the vastness of information, business plans can also be one of the most overwhelming parts of starting a business. READ HERE about a business plan outline that walks you through each section of a basic business plan in the order they typically appear.